Train-pipe coupling.



. HILER.

WI M TRAIN PIPE COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED own, 1908.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

ANDREW. B. 55mm 00.. wnoTo-umocmwuzns. WASHINFTON. v.1;

WILLIAM M. HILER, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 8, 1908. Serial No. 456,800.

. pipe couplings for use on railway cars, locomotives, etc.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means for supporting the two members of the coupling on the cars whereby they are always in proper position to be automatically coupled and to remain connected during the movements of the cars in transit and in rounding curves. v

The members of the coupling are connected to the wheel trucks or bolsters of the cars whereby they are always arranged at a uniform height from the track even though the bodies of the cars are raised to different heights above the track. Each of said coupling members is pivoted to swing vertically on a turn table mounted upon a horizontal supporting plate. Means are provided for yieldingly holding said coupling member horizontal and for yieldingly retaining the turn table in a position on the supporting plate in which said member is arranged in alinement with the vertical longitudinal axis of the car. v

The invention also consists in the features of construction and combinations of devices hereinafter described and specified in the claims. v

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating the preferredembodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is a broken sectional view of one end of a car showing one member of the coupling in elevation and how it is secured to the wheel truck or bolster. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view of the coupling member, turn table and supporting plate. Fig. 8 is a plan view of these parts, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line aem of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 designates the horizontal supporting plate which is securely fastened to the wheel truck or bolster 2 by means of the rods 3.

The turn table 4 is revolubly secured on said plate 1 by the bolt 5. Said turn table is provided with two upstanding brackets 6 between which one member 7 of the train pipe coupling is. pivoted so as to swing vertically.

At each end of the turn table and below the coupling member there are formed raised socketed knobs 8, one of which is arranged on each side of the pivotal axis of said member. Coiled springs 9 are seated in the sockets in said knobs and extend up into engagement with the coupling. These springs serve to yieldingly hold said member in a horizontal position.

An arcuate slot 10 is formed in the supporting plate 1 with strai htsocket extensions 11 at each end thereo The turn table carries a downwardly projecting pin 12 which extends into said slot. Coiled springs 13 are seated in the sockets 11 and project therefrom into the slot for engagement with the opposite sides of said pin. The function of these springs is to yieldingly retain the turn table in a position on the supporting plate in which the coupling member is in alinement with the vertical longitudinal axis of the car.

My method of 'mounting the coupling members as above described permits them to adjust themselves automatically to each other, when they are coupled upand allows them to turn horizontally when the train is going around a curve. Although the securing of the coupling members to the wheel truck of the cars will insure their being at the same height from the track, if one member should be higher than the others, the springs 9 will allow said coupling members to swing vertically to suit one another.

The form of coupling member which I prefer to employ comprises a tubular casing 14 closed at its inner end and having a restricted opening 15 at its outer end. A pipe 16 is mounted in said opening and projects into the casing. A coupling head 17 is mounted on the outer end of said pipe and is preferably provided with a flared central opening 18 and a flat flange covered with rubber .or other suitable material 19 which will make an air tight joint. Near its inner end ports 20 are formed in said pipe for admitting compressed air thereto from the interior of the casing. The inner end of the pipe is closed by a nut or cap 21 between which and the closed end of the easing there is arranged a coiled spring 22.

Patented Oct. 12, 1909;

The position of the pipe when the device is upstanding brackets, one member of a train uncoupled is shown in solidlines in Fig. 1. Said pipe is then extended by'thc spring 22 until it is stopped by the nut 21. abutting against the outer wall of the casing around therestricted opening. hen in this position, the ports are closed by the solid walls of the forward end of the casing around said restricted opening in the end of thecasing and the compressed air is cut off from-passing through the pipe. hen the coupling members are engaged with one another, the pipe is retracted .or pressed back into thecasing as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig: 1, uncovering :said .ports and permitting the air' to pass through saidpipe to the other member of the coupling. Conipressed air is supplied to'the casing through aihose 23 connected around a port. 24 in the sidewall of said casingnear itsinner end.

WVhi-le' I1 prefer to useithe construction of couplingparticularly described herein, other suitable constructions may be employed in lieu thereofwithout departing from my invention; :1 am aware that other changes in details may be made without sacrificing the advantages ofmy invention. 1, therefore,'do.not-limit.myself to the exact construction shown herein but reserve the right tofmake. such changes or modifications as fairly .fall' within theiscope of my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination,- with a horizontal supporting plate, of c. a-- turn table mounted thereon, and having upstanding brackets, one member of a train pipe couplingpivoted to: swing vertically between said brackets, means for. holding said. coupling member yieldingly horizontal, means of. supporting said plate on a car, and means for yieldingly holding said turn table in position with the coupling member in alinement with the vertical longitudinal axis of the car.

Q2. ;The combination, with a-horizontal supporting-plate suitably fastenedto a car, of. a turn bELblBJHOUDlZQClOD said plate and-having upstanding brackets, one member of; a train pipe coupling intermediately pivoted to swing vertically between said brackets, springs interposed between said turn table and coupling member at opposite sides: of the 1 pivot, and m eans for yieldingly holding said turn tableinposition with the coupling member. in alinement with the. vertical longitudinal axis of :the car.

i 3. Thecombination, with a horizontal supporting plate suitably fastened .to a car, of a turntable mountedon-said plate and having pipe. coupling intermediately pivoted to swing vertically between said brackets,

said turn table also having raised socketed knobs at opposite sides of the pivot of said coupling member and below the latter, coiled springs seated in the sockets in said knobs and engaging said coupling member, and means for yieldingly holding said turn table in position with the coupling member in alinement withthe vertical longitudinal axis of the car.

daThe combination, with a horizontal supporting platesuitably fastened to a car, of aiturn tablemounted on said plate and having upstanding brackets, one member of a. train pipe coupling pivoted to swing vertically between said brackets, means for holding said coupling member yieldingly horizontal, said plate having an arcuate slot -th-ere1n,.a 13111011- said turn table extending into said slot, and springs housed in said slot and engaging opposite sides of said-pin for the purpose specified.

5.. The combination, with a horizontal supporting plate .suitably fastened to a car, of a turn table mounted on said plate and having upstanding brackets, OliGJi'lGlllbGl of a train pipe coupling pivoted to swing vertically between said brackets, means for holding said coupling member yieldingly horizontal, said plate having an arcuate .slot

therein, a-pin on: said turn table extending into said slot, straightsockets at the ends of said slot, coiled-springs seated in said sockets and extendinginto said slot for engagement with the opposite sides of said pin for the purpose specified.

6. The combination, with a horizontal supporting plate suitably fastened to a car, of a turn table mounted on said plate and having upstanding brackets, one member of atrainpipe coupling intermediately pivoted .to swing vertically between said brackets, springs :llltGlPOSGCl between said turn table and coupling member at opposite sides of the 131VOt,.Sii1d plate having an arcuate slot therein,- apin on said turn table extending into said slot, and springs housed in said slot and engaging opposite sides of said pin for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature,-in,presence of two witnesses.

'lVILLIAM M. I-IILER.

Witnesses JOHN EDwAnoMErnR, RALPH E. DICKHUT. 

